Date:         Mon, 25 Feb 2002 00:30:39 -0500
Reply-To:     John Lauterbach <jhlauterbach@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Lauterbach <jhlauterbach@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Subject:      Radiator vent bolt/washer?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Is it possible to obtain an "official" vent bolt and washer for the radiator on an '84?  I had the Dremel out for another project this week and put what I thought was an appropriate slice in the bolt that was in the radiator (apparently not the original since it was unsliced).  My slice went through the bottom 4 threads leaving the top 4 untouched.  However, the bolt would not seal.  I then got a standard 8-mm metric coarse bolt from my collection only to lose the washer.  I used a nonmetric washer whose hole was just larger than the bolt, but it is a steel washer not brass.  It held pressure on the 2-mile round trip to AutoZone to get some 8-mm washers and some thread sealant.  Am I headed for trouble?  If the brass washer is critical, where does one get them.  If a truly leak tight (to both air as well as coolant) fit is needed, it would appear that Teflon tape or Teflon thread compound would be a better choice than a brass washer.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 7-passenger